Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-09
A SILLY PROTEST.

Some very thin-skinned people are pre-
pairing petitions to Governor Stanford pro-
testing against the endowment of the Le-
land Stanford Jr. University with money
or lands which represent in any way the
working of the grape into wine. lnas-
much as the university endowment is a
private affair, it would seem that the pro-
test is in the nature of impertinenee. But
aside from that, suppose it to be true that
some part of the endowment is the result
of wine-making-thou we incline to the
cent of profit from that source from lands
in the endowment-what should it matter
TO the most radical prohibitionist Can
he not at least see that money sent in that
channel is more earthly used than if di-
verted from it? 1t is straining at gnat
in verify when faith in doctrine carries
one to such. extremity as the signers of the
protest go in this case. Does the prohibi-
ton physician feel that he is untrue to his
preaching when he takes a fee for physic-
ing a wine-grower. Does the clergy
man refuse to pass the poor-box to the
vineyardist? Does the conscientious tee
total grocer decline to sell flour to the Gus
toner who makes his wage in wine vault
Do home or foreign missions refuse the
dollars and dimes given by wine-makers
TO aid their work The Methodist Preach
ers' Association and the Congregational
Club, to whom the protest was presented,
unanimously laid it upon the table, and
demonstrated their good sense by SO doing.
As Rev. Dr.. Barrows said, if the doctrine of
the protest were put into practice 1t
would ruin many church society.
Even that rather prominent temperance
man DR.. Mcdonald, who led the Prohibit
ton hosts in a State campaign, says that
he does not stay good work because some
part of its support may spring from sources
which his judgment does not commend He
gave an apt illustration of his idea of the
subject by saying that he sent his daughter
to Vassar College without conjunction Of
conscience, though that institution was
founded by the money of brewer. This
whole matter of the protest is rather
amusing than otherwise, and will
probably provoke smiles instead of
pain. As for the reverend gentleman who
originated the circular to whichs ignatures
is asked, he will scarcely commend himself
to the best thought of the day by the mar
rowness of his views of the right use of
money. His effort to cause diversion of
the Stanford endowment that relates to
vine lands, will amount to nothing more
serious than some annoyance to the gener-
Gus man who is striving to lay the founda-
lions and rear structure for the benefit of
the youths of America for all time His
endowment has had no parallel for breadth
and worth. His scheme in its symmetry
and grandeur and far-sightedness, speaks
of the regard he has for his fellow-men,
and the sincerity of the conviction that in
this grand scheme of education he has
work to do that will endure for ages, and
the benefcent results of which will be
visited upon unnumbered thousands of the
youth of the world. That such bene-
factor should be annoyed in the beginning
OF his work by such protest as that re-
ferred to, is humiliating.